Wednesday, April 13, 2016

The Internationalization of the Olympic Games

From the beginning, the games at
Olympia served as a bond between Greeks and strengthened the Greek sense of
national unity. During the Hellenistic period, Greeks who came to live in
foreign surroundings such as Syria, Asia, and Egypt, strove to hold on to their
culture. One of the ways to achieve this was to build athletic facilities and
continue their athletic traditions. They organized competitions, and sent
competitors from their towns to compete in the PanHellenic games.

In the 2nd century A.D., Roman
citizenship was extended to everyone within the Roman Empire. From then on, the
participation of many competitors from outside of Greece in the Olympic Games,
gave them to a degree, international nature.

When the Greek government
reinstated the games in 1896, this international character of the competitions
was preserved by Baron de Coubertin. Now, 16 centuries later, the Olympic Games
attract competitors from countries all over the world.

About Me

I have studied Theology at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, School of Theology, International Relations at the University of London (Queen Mary). My Master's Thesis was published as a book: 'The Aegean Sea Dispute Between Greece and Turkey - The Consequences for NATO and the EU'. For more information see: http://www.akakia.net/el/the-aegean-sea-dispute-between-greece-and-turkey
I have also studied Byzantine Music in Athens and I am currently undertaking a research on the “Fellowship of St. Alban and St. Sergius and its contribution towards Anglican – Orthodox Relations”, at the University of Winchester.
I also represent the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain at the A.E.C.A. If you wish to contact me you can email me: demetrifs1@yahoo.com